Sir, - The recent decision by Mr Netenyahu's administration to commence building the new settlement at Har Homa flies in the face of world opinion and the spirit of the Oslo accords. Such destabilising actions serve to illustrate that Israel under the Likud party is only interested in peace on its own terms. By jettisoning the "land for peace" formula, Mr Netanyahu is playing into the hands of Islamic extremist groups such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, who are using it as a tool with which to beat Mr Arafat's Palestinian Authority.
Meanwhile the United States, in its traditional display of pro Israeli bias, scuppers UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions. Is it not time that the Dutch EU Presidency asserts itself politically and plays a more even handed role in the resolving this conflict? The US does not have a God given right to be the only international arbiter. - Yours, etc.,
Barnhill Avenue,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.